NFL Devastating Hits: Marshall Faulk Was Correct on Helmet-to-Helmet Rule

I must say that anyone who does not have the NFL Network is missing out. These guys never shy away from telling it like it is. They don't kiss up to the commissioner or the new rules that are laid down year after year. They also have fun on the show and it shows.

If you're not familiar with the cast of the show, it carries the likes of Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin, Warren Sapp, Steve Mariucci, Rod Woodson, Jaime Dukes and Rich Eisen among many others.

This morning as I tuned in to watch my two hours of pregame analysis, they were discussing the helmet-to-helmet rule. "At the end of the day," (little shout out to Rod there) Marshall Faulk had it exactly right. Without quoting, he stated that you're rewarding bad offenses that don't know how to avoid the big hit. Well my friend, that's exactly right.

You see, good offenses know how to make plays without putting their players in harm's way. Good receivers also know where they are on the field and know how to adjust themselves to avoid being crushed. Whether that's adjusting your body to make the catch or knowing when to avoid it altogether, they have mastered this ability. I know that sounds crazy to avoid a catch, but when you could get knocked out of the game on one play, then that catch probably isn't worth it. Live to play another down, as they say.

In my opinion a receiver should never be considered "defenseless." Is he not on a football field, where someone might want to tear his head off? I think so. It's his responsibility to not only know where he is on the field, but where the defenders are as well. You must "keep your head on a swivel" anytime you have the ball or you're making an attempt to go for the ball.

As it stands, they continue to take more and more responsibility away from the offense in protecting themselves and continue to make it harder on the defense. Maybe that's their way of making the game more interesting and high scoring, but for me watching hard hits are just as important. So to Marshall Faulk I say, "Thank you, for you were exactly right 'at the end of the day.'"